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Best lens for product photography

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ncsakany

ncsakany

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On my Canon DSLR I used a tilt-shift lens for this type of shots (such as items on a table, all in focus); being fairly new to m43, what would be the best lens to achieve this? I probably am asking a stupid question, as the answer is most likely to control DoF, but still, is there a lens better suited for this purpose?

TIA
 
I wish one of the prime lens makers would make a tilt-shift specifically for m4/3. I would buy it immediately. In the meantime, I use an old Olympus OM macro lens on my G1, and the optical quality is superb. But you have no control of plane of focus.
--
The Kodachromeguy
 
Just plane of focus change needed - I wish there were a m43 option.
 
What focal length? Tilt adapters are available; you just need to find a suitable lens to mount.
 
ncsakany said:
On my Canon DSLR I used a tilt-shift lens for this type of shots (such as items on a table, all in focus); being fairly new to m43, what would be the best lens to achieve this? I probably am asking a stupid question, as the answer is most likely to control DoF, but still, is there a lens better suited for this purpose?
Click to expand...
There are some tilt adapters available, which you can use with legacy lenses. As long as you don't need to go wide and are not against manual focus, it should be OK. You are most likely to find them on eBay; the best are made by Kipon :

http://www.dl-kipon.com/en/product.asp?id=89

Kipon does also make shift adapter for Nikon lenses to mft bodies, but there are few legacy wide angle lenses.

Kipon doesn't make tilt and shift adapters, you have to choose one or the other.
http://www.dl-kipon.com/en/product.asp?id=97

Personally, I'd really like it if someone was designing a shift wide angle lens for mft ! 4/3Rumors made a survey some week ago and the wish of a wide angle tilt-shift lens was second or third on the most wanted list.. So we may see one once.
--
rrr_hhh
 
Thanks, I'll take a look. MF doesn't bother me, as I'm used to Canon's TS lenses which are also manual. I mostly used their older 45mm TS-E on a FF camera, so I recon my 25mm Panaleica will do as long as the adapter itself doesn't modify the focal length.

Edit: I see it's for legacy lenses. That's OK too, as long as the resulting FL is around 40-50mm, FF equivalent.
 
I use the Panasonic 45 2.8 macro for my MFT's product work with Elinchrom strobes. Don't use hot lights as a first choice, hot lights are meant only for video. A macro lens is what is needed regardless.
ncsakany said:
On my Canon DSLR I used a tilt-shift lens for this type of shots (such as items on a table, all in focus); being fairly new to m43, what would be the best lens to achieve this? I probably am asking a stupid question, as the answer is most likely to control DoF, but still, is there a lens better suited for this purpose?

TIA
Click to expand...
 
I picked up Canon's 24mm TS lens to experiment with this. I have not, yet, managed to get my act together and get the adapter, so I don't have a datapoint for ya.

Kipon's alternative actually just popped on my radar, making it a much easier thing to manage...if'n when they make a production version, Id' be curious.

Alternatively, Lensbaby makes some m4/3 options that piqued my interest. I think there was one called the Tilt Transformer adapter that allows you to fit nikon lenses to your m4/3 body. They also have a m4/3 mount composer lens, which allows interesting and useful tilting. I haven't done much research as to what the output looks like.

--
'I have no responsibilities here whatsoever'
 
ncsakany said:
Thanks, I'll take a look. MF doesn't bother me, as I'm used to Canon's TS lenses which are also manual. I mostly used their older 45mm TS-E on a FF camera, so I recon my 25mm Panaleica will do as long as the adapter itself doesn't modify the focal length.

Edit: I see it's for legacy lenses. That's OK too, as long as the resulting FL is around 40-50mm, FF equivalent.
Click to expand...
The thing is that you need a FF lens to have enough coverage when you tilt or shift. If you want a 45mm equivalent you have to look for WA in the 21, 24 or 28mm range. You'll have to avoid lenses which don't have aperture rings, like the Canon EOS lenses.

Remark : I have never tried one of these adapters, since what I want is a 21-24mm equivalent shift lens for architecture and there are no cheap legacy WA going down to 10-12mm. There is a Nikon 13mm which is not a fisheye, but it is a collectors' item costing between 25'000-30'000$.

--
rrr_hhh
 
rrr_hhh said:
The thing is that you need a FF lens to have enough coverage when you tilt or shift. If you want a 45mm equivalent you have to look for WA in the 21, 24 or 28mm range. You'll have to avoid lenses which don't have aperture rings, like the Canon EOS lenses.
Click to expand...
I was thinking of Canon FD, with full manual controls. From the link you provided, Kipon makes a Canon FD adapter, and it's on ebay for around $155.
 
The problem is that it's a rather wide area, and I'd still like to retain some sort of perspective in the shot, hence my desire for a tilt movement.

I was thinking of ambient + controlled spot lighting. No strobes.
ryan2007 said:
I use the Panasonic 45 2.8 macro for my MFT's product work with Elinchrom strobes. Don't use hot lights as a first choice, hot lights are meant only for video. A macro lens is what is needed regardless.
Click to expand...
 
What specific product type are you shooting? In addition to specific lens choice the number of lights, hot lights or strobes with certain accessories will make a difference (they can)
ncsakany said:
The problem is that it's a rather wide area, and I'd still like to retain some sort of perspective in the shot, hence my desire for a tilt movement.

I was thinking of ambient + controlled spot lighting. No strobes.
ryan2007 said:
I use the Panasonic 45 2.8 macro for my MFT's product work with Elinchrom strobes. Don't use hot lights as a first choice, hot lights are meant only for video. A macro lens is what is needed regardless.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
I think the best thing is to look at the web site or sites that have this type of audio gear to see what they already do. If it looks like you can improve on it then start to figure out how its done and what is the best angle or how many images you need to get your point.

A lavaliere is small so you can always use the clothing clip as a makeshift stand. You can search for invisible wire or thread to suspend an item. I use certain platforms or small block type items to support some product that blend to the background.
 
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